Tributes have been paid to Professor Nabil Gindy, a leading academic at The University of Nottingham, who has died at the age of 62.

Professor Gindy played a key role in the Faculty of Engineering at the University for two decades, and had worked since 2009 at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) where he was Vice-Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School.

He joined the University as a Professor in Manufacturing Engineering in 1993, bringing with him an international reputation for expertise in his field.

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Professor Nick Miles, Provost and Pro-Vice Chancellor at UNNC, said: “Nabil’s sudden passing has been felt deeply here at UNNC. Taking the lead on the University’s research development, and leading the Graduate School, he made a lasting contribution during his time here.

“His absence leaves a huge gap in our community and he will so very much missed by all who knew him. Nabil was a great colleague to work with, always innovative and inspiring. His passing is a great loss to us all and I offer my deepest sympathy to his family.”

Professor Andy Long, Dean of the Engineering Faculty at the University of Nottingham UK, said: “Nabil came to Nottingham with an international reputation for expertise in advanced manufacturing research, and undoubtedly raised our profile in this area which is now one of the most successful in the Faculty and a University research priority.

“He was a hard taskmaster at work, but one of the kindest and most generous of people you could wish to meet socially. On visits to Ningbo, Nabil gave me and my colleagues such a warm welcome and made sure we were well looked after. He was a lovely man, and I shall miss him very much.”

Professor Gindy was responsible for leading UNNC’s research agenda and promoting closer cooperation with government and business. His research, undertaken in collaboration with industry, embraced knowledge integrated design and manufacture, intelligent processing technology, process monitoring and control, machine tools, technology planning and responsive manufacturing systems.

Among his many accomplishments, Professor Gindy was the founder of the Sino-UK Low Carbon Manufacturing Consortium, a multi-disciplinary research and educational partnership between academia, industry and government agencies in the UK and China with interest in sustainable manufacturing.

Prof Duan Guanghong, of Tsinghua University, said: “It was through Nabil’s initiative and hard work that the Sino-UK Consortium was formed. His passing away is such a big loss for us, we will deeply miss him.”

Dr Yan Wang, one of Professor Gindy’s former PhD students, said: “I was very saddened to hear of Nabil’s death, it is a great loss to the academic community. I knew him for 13 years, completing both my PhD and post-doctorate research under his supervision and moving to UNNC with him in 2009 to continue our work. He was always a challenging supervisor, never shying away from helping me improve as a researcher.

“His forward-thinking approach, honesty and good humour contributed to me becoming the researcher I am today and contributed to him becoming a good friend as well as a supervisor. Always generous with his contacts and knowledge, I will miss his energy and guidance, but most of all I will miss an esteemed colleague and dear friend.”

Stephen Newman, Professor of Innovative Manufacturing Technology at the University of Bath, said: “I first came across Nabil in 1981 as my lecturer at Aston University where he was already a great character; on finishing my degree in 1982 he helped me with advice and support when I started at Land Rover. I then came across Nabil again at Loughborough in the 1990s where he was a senior lecturer and became a close friend. He moved to Nottingham and I was delighted to see him succeed as a leading UK manufacturing professor.

“He has always supported my career and has been a dear close friend who will be heavily missed as a major manufacturing Professor recognised across Europe and Asia. Nabil will always be looked on as a leading academic but more importantly a real gentleman who loved his work and cared for his colleagues and was always there to give advice, encouragement and support.”

Professor Kai Cheng and Dr Richard Bateman, of Brunel University, said: “We are deeply shocked and heartbroken to hear that Professor Nabil Gindy has passed away. He was such a lovely, highly respected academic colleague and friend. It is very sad and a big loss for our manufacturing community, and of course the GSM network which he initiated and contributed so much.

“Our deepest condolences to Nabil’s family, we will miss him so much.”